THE PROJECT / 

The Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is a major waterfront development that will deliver a world-class convention and exhibition precinct for Geelong. The project features a purpose-built convention centre with a 1,000-seat venue, exhibition spaces, conference facilities, retail, public open space and a 200-room Crowne Plaza hotel.

The exposed Corio Bay waterfront location presented demanding structural requirements, with the external soffit framing needing to withstand high wind loads and meet the seismic design criteria.

The builder was after a solution that could simplify installation at height, reduce manual handling and keep the project moving. A traditional stick-built approach would have increased labour requirements, installation time and safety risks across the large soffit areas.

THE CORTEK STEEL FRAMING SOLUTION / 

Cortek developed a lightweight pre-fabricated steel framing system that combined structural performance with fast, efficient installation.

The framing panels were engineered for use from elevated work platforms (EWPs), reducing manual handling and improving site safety. A planned sequence – fixing suspension droppers first, followed by the pre-fabricated panels and engineered bracing – streamlined the process while meeting all structural, wind loading and seismic requirements.

The framing was also designed to align precisely with the external cladding layout, enabling the cladding to be directly fixed to the framing system without additional site modifications.

By moving fabrication off site and delivering ready-to-install framing, Cortek reduced on-site labour, shortened installation time and helped minimise working-at-height risks. The result was a safer, faster and more predictable construction process, giving the builder greater program certainty and confidence during delivery.